Something Different At The Movies

Edmond Town Hall’s movie theater is trying something a little different for Thanksgiving week. Instead of going with a current wide release for its film screenings, the town hall will be hosting screenings of a relatively smaller film November 16-21.

Brigham City was released in April to only 70 markets across the country. Local moviegoers may not have heard much about the film that stars Richard Dutcher, Matthew A. Brown, and Wilford Brimley, but that does not mean it has been ignored. In his review of the movie for USA Today, Larry King said “Everything about this tense, taut film is gripping” and called the cast “terrific.” Box Office Magazine gave the film four stars, The New York Times called it “engrossing … [with] concise, skillful filmmaking” and the performances “impeccable.” And Variety offered “[it is] the best film … for the discussion of serious faith-related issues [in] over a decade.”

Dutcher stars as Sheriff Wes Clayton, a compassionate lawman and a Mormon bishop in a quiet Mormon community called Brigham. The tranquil town is shaken when a woman from California is found murdered near her car. Sheriff Clayton, his young deputy (played by Brown), the town’s retired sheriff (Brimley) and his shrewd secretary (Carrie Morgan) work with an FBI agent (Tayva Patch) sent to investigate. As a civil and spiritual leader in this frightened town, Sheriff Clayton must serve both justice and mercy to uncover the town’s deepest secrets, find the murderer, and keep Brigham from ripping itself apart.

Richard Dutcher wrote, produced, and directed Brigham City. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in films. At a time when other students were spending between $12,000 and $20,000 on their short films, Mr Dutcher produced, directed and edited Brother John for $3,500. The film won the university’s Producer’s Award, its highest recognition for a student film.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences chose his first full-length screenplay, Romantic Notions, as a semifinalist in its 1992 Nicholl Competition. From 1994 to 96 he wrote, produced, directed and starred in his first full-length feature film, a PG-rated comedy called Girl Crazy. The textbook example of high-quality, low-budget filmmaking was produced and marketed for only $56,000, and it was purchased by HBO and Cinemax.

Last year Mr Dutcher released God’s Army, a breakthrough dramatic feature about Mormon missionaries that he wrote, produced, directed, and played a lead role. The film earned praise from critics across the country, grossed more than $2.6 million at the US box office (having been made with a $300,000 budget), and proved that religious filmmaking did not have to be preachy to tell a good story.

For Brigham City Mr Dutcher had a production budget of $1.2 million, much larger than he had had to work with to date yet still firmly within the camp of low-budget indie films.

 “Religion and issues of faith play an important part both in the story and in the lives of the characters,” said Mr Dutcher. “The movie does not try to convert the audience, but it does explore how people of faith deal with a crisis.” The film is a murder mystery where most of the main characters are Mormon. The majority of the cast was Mormon and live in Utah; the movie was filmed on location in Mapleton, Utah, in October 2000.

The town portrayed in the movie is called Brigham, Mr Dutcher has explained, because it is a name that people immediately associate with Mormon stories and people.

“Also, one of the main themes of the film is how the entire community deals with the murder that has occurred, and so it was fitting that the title of the film reflect the entire community,” he continued.

“The movie,” he carefully pointed out, “is in no way related to or about the actual town of Brigham City, located in northern Utah.” In fact, as with all mainstream entertainment, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (or Mormons) has released no official endorsement of the film. Mr Dutcher is a member of LDS and served as a missionary to southern Mexico from 1984 to 1986.

Brigham City, rated PG-13, lacks any gratuitous profanity, sex, or violence. The film deals with some intense subject matter (i.e., murder) but portrays such subjects with restraint. Parents may want to exercise caution when considering whether to bring very young children to see the movie.

Screenings will be November 16-21 at 7 and 9:15 pm. Matinees are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3:45 pm, then Monday through Wednesday at 1 pm. All tickets are $2.